Kevin Pietersen sets sights on New Zealand tour

KEVIN Pietersen is hoping his differences with the England and Wales Cricket Board are “sorted”, and he will return in time to tour New Zealand early next year.

England’s prodigal batsman has been at odds with his employers for much of the summer and was eventually dropped from the Test team at Lord’s when his working relationship with coach Andy Flower and then captain Andrew Strauss broke down over “provocative” texts sent to opposing South African players at Headingley.

Pietersen is also playing no part in England’s defence of the ICC World Twenty20, which got under way in earnest yesterday with victory over Afghanistan in their first Group A match.

Instead, he is fulfilling a lucrative contract as a television pundit for the tournament and staying on the outskirts of Colombo – from where he yesterday morning tweeted his optimism that he may soon be returning to the fold. In an exchange with New Zealand rugby union star Dan Carter, he wrote: “Hoping all’s sorted and I’m on the NZ tour in Feb.”

Pietersen’s remark comes a day after new Test captain Alastair Cook confirmed he has held meetings with the South Africa-born batsman, but issues remain to be resolved before he can resume his international career with his adopted country.

Cook replaced Strauss when the latter retired last month, and will travel to India for a tough four-Test tour there without Pietersen in his squad.